Thats HMV going as well!

[SIII]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21021073

[Tomor]

Just seen this on the news. Will be popping in on Wednesday to spend my gift card! :)

[dizzyblonde]

Not a surprise. It's been on the cards for months

[Spank86]

Just seen this on the news. Will be popping in on Wednesday to spend my gift card! :)

You wanna get that done as soon as possible, the administrators tend to shut them down quick.

[Teejayexc]

Not a surprise. It's been on the cards for months

I heard it on the grapevine.

Or was that Marvin Gaye ?

[savage86]

No big surprise really bit of a shame though.

[dizzyblonde]

Long live the independent. Slightly biased having a friend who is an independent, but hmv was always a joy to go to in Leeds for loads of obscure goth and weird stuff that out priced my friend.

[Kenzie]

Surprised they survived this long.

[joshwalker094]

barstewerd, not that i use it often, soent £3 on a hmv loyalyity card last year aswell, better spend my points

[The Basket]

I remember. ...as a younger person....in hmv Liverpool looking at Laser Discs and marvelling at the future.

My youth is slipping away.

[Spank86]

I remember sam goody

[The Idle Biker]

I heard it on the grapevine.

Or was that Marvin Gaye ?

Lol:D:D:D:D

Shame, it was absolutely heaving in the HMV's I went into at Christmas. It must be the interweb again. Blockbusters video will go soon too.

[LewSpeight]

Just seen this on the news. Will be popping in on Wednesday to spend my gift card! :)

If they've already gone into administration i wouldnt expect to be able to spend a gift card mate. Or be too certain that HMV will even exist on wed...

Jessops last week went into administration and we couldnt take gift cards as a payment and by friday afternoon the store seized trading...:smt102

[dizzyblonde]

It's like a guessing game......which big named firm will be the next to go?

[wyrdness]

I used to like HMV, but they turned into vile places to shop. Couldn't stand to set foot in one, in the last few years. So I'm not at all surprised.

[Tomor]

If they've already gone into administration i wouldnt expect to be able to spend a gift card mate. Or be too certain that HMV will even exist on wed...

Jessops last week went into administration and we couldnt take gift cards as a payment and by friday afternoon the store seized trading...:smt102

im sending my dad in tomorrow morning to spend it for me :)

[Stenno]

No shock aye, share price has been coming down ever since 2005. The dawn of the internet always sparked the end as it has and will for a lot of retailers. And even when I tried using their website recently I found the navigation really poor compared to their competitors.

Hopefully they'll be back filled by some independent music sellers. Including at the airport. Although I couldn't see a music store at Stansted the other week which was disappointing.

[Littlepeahead]

My first job after school was at Our Price - remember them? They were in competition in Chelmford with Parrot Records and Pop Inn, teo great independents, both gone many years since, but Woolworths was the chart return shop for town so nothing bought elsewhere in Chelmsford counted towards the charts.

And Tower Records in Piccadilly was always the place to visit if you went to the West End.

If HMV closes then Chelmsford, using my home town as an example, will have not a single 'record shop'. Not that HMV sell vinyl, I have to go to Billericay for my vinyl or order online.

I spent a decade working in music, from Our Price to Sony. Coloured vinyl, gatefold sleeves, poster pack 7" and DJ heavy vinyl, digipacks and hidden tracks when CDs arrived, and as important as the music, some iconic sleeve artwork. Would Abbey Road zebra crossing really be such a huge tourist attraction if the Beatles had appeared as a thumbnail on an iPod?

Sadly file sharing and illegal downloads will kill off music retailers, which in turn means record companies will make smaller profits and have less money to invest in new talent. At Sony I used to have to remind myself sometimes that the massive sales of Michael Bolton funded the first Jeff Buckey album, Celine Dion effectively paid for Screaming Trees and so on.

Like the cockroaches being the only survivors of a holocaust, we will be left with nothing but Simon Cowell and the X-Factor finalists!

[maviczap]

Too easy to sit at home and browse on Amazon for what you want, or browse the top 30 at Tesco's.

HMV was good for cheap boxed sets of DVD's but I've reached that age where I don't buy that much music, especially when CD's are still quite expensive. But I didn't particulary enjoy going into HMV as a shopping experience

Gone are the days of going into a record shop and buying 4 Led Zeplin LP's produced in Portugal for a tenner.

Idle Biker is spot on saying Blockbusters will be next and don't be surprised if Waterstones don't go under.

The likes of Amazon don't have the overheads of paying rent and huge staffing bills with their business model, and not paying taxes also gives them an unfair advantage. We'll regret not being able to see and touch the things we want to buy, but everyone wants their stuff as cheaply as possible

[maviczap]

I spent a decade working in music, from Our Price to Sony. Coloured vinyl, gatefold sleeves, poster pack 7" and DJ heavy vinyl, digipacks and hidden tracks when CDs arrived, and as important as the music, some iconic sleeve artwork. Would Abbey Road zebra crossing really be such a huge tourist attraction if the Beatles had appeared as a thumbnail on an iPod?

Sadly file sharing and illegal downloads will kill off music retailers, which in turn means record companies will make smaller profits and have less money to invest in new talent. At Sony I used to have to remind myself sometimes that the massive sales of Michael Bolton funded the first Jeff Buckey album, Celine Dion effectively paid for Screaming Trees and so on.

Like the cockroaches being the only survivors of a holocaust, we will be left with nothing but Simon Cowell and the X-Factor finalists!

Yes, gone are the days spent looking at all the great work that was the LP cover which was part of the music buying process, listen to the album whilst looking at the cover and lyrics.

We need another platform other than the X factor to bring new music to the masses.

Thursday night for Top of the Pops and then the Tube, brought great artists to my attention, so I went out and bought their records. Even the Old Grey Whistle Test was another good music prog, but on too late for me.

[Spank86]

My first job after school was at Our Price - remember them? They were in competition in Chelmford with Parrot Records and Pop Inn, teo great independents, both gone many years since, but Woolworths was the chart return shop for town so nothing bought elsewhere in Chelmsford counted towards the charts.
I remember Our Price and I remember the one in chelmsford. Don't remember the other two though, must have been before my time.

[Sir Trev]

Like the cockroaches being the only survivors of a holocaust, we will be left with nothing but Simon Cowell and the X-Factor finalists!

Simon Cowell - cockroach. I see what you did there. I refuse to watch programmes like X-Factor on principle because of Cowell.

Remember how record shops used to be? Choose your purchase, go to till, sales wallah goes to the racks behind them for the media, inserts to empty box you presented? By including DVDs and games shops like HMV cannot do that simply due to volumes so you have to be watched by several grumpy looking staff members by the door who are convinced you're going to steal something. Not very relaxing. The shop in Wycombe is also pretty soulless and uninviting.

[The Basket]

Shame for the staff who may be out end of week. Shame that the high street is becoming empty.

A sign of times.

[-Ralph-]

iTunes, Amazon, Netflix, Google Play, LoveFilm....

Sad to see them go, but I haven't been in an HMV since 2001

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[tigersaw]

Record shops used to have booths, you'd ask at the counter and they'd direct you to booth 2 to listen to the latest single you'd selected. They even had ash trays in there.

[dizzyblonde]

My friend specialises in vinyl. Always has, they adorn the walls.....lovely rare colourful examples of weirdness.
You still pick your cd case and he puts in the disk when you get to the till. Even allows you to sample your choice before you buy, or puts something on as a suggestion you may like. He's pretty much the last of the independants.

He does struggle against the likes of Amazon and Asda etc, but you want something rare, obscure or unheard of, he's very likely to find it. I was 16 when I first walked through the door of his first shop, I'm 36 now. It's all down to the customer following and being good at your job, or more to the point knowing your music with an expert ear....almost geek like!

[pookie]

whsmiths , blockbusters, homebase, royal mail ( I wish) probably heading for the door. sad result of internet shopping and large supermarkets taking up market share. Sad news that the face of the traditional high street will become a charity super highyway.

[joshwalker094]

Been announced 25 minutes ago that they won't be accepting any gift cards or vouchers.

[Littlepeahead]

We used to have people come in store and say they wanted that song... the one that goes... [customer hums a bit] and I'd know the one. I wouldn't tell them though. I'd say, not sure, let me see if another staff member can help. Call over colleague, customer made to hum again. Gather more staff members and ask customer to sing the lyrics too. Awful tuneless rendition follows. Keeping a straight face while watching the hapless customer make a complete tit of themselves in front of a shop full of people was tricky.

You don't get that with Amazon.

[flymo]

whsmiths , blockbusters, homebase, royal mail ( I wish) probably heading for the door. sad result of internet shopping and large supermarkets taking up market share. Sad news that the face of the traditional high street will become a charity super highyway.

Is it really that sad, or does it make way for a different kind of high street. What happened before CDs and records, people went out to listen to live music more often. Its just the world moving on.

I quite like the idea that I can listen to and buy a piece of music right now instead of waiting 'til Saturday to trudge through the busy shops to buy it. Do I want the album artwork and the feel of a real product in my hands? Honestly not that bothered now, I was when I was younger and building a music collection to fill boxes in my loft in later years.

Sorry to see people lose their jobs over this, but a company the size of HMV will have been well aware of the internet/MP3 threat for a very long time. They should have adjusted their business to suit instead of providing an excessive number of massive expensive stores all over the place.

[Spank86]

You don't get that with Amazon.
no, but you can just google a handful of random lyrics find some possible track names and then check the song on youtube.

Of course it probably wouldnt help if you were after a copy of "informer".

[Wideboy]

Sorry to see people lose their jobs over this, but a company the size of HMV will have been well aware of the internet/MP3 threat for a very long time. They should have adjusted their business to suit instead of providing an excessive number of massive expensive stores all over the place.

+1. Branson had the right idea getting out when he did. I too haven't bought anything from a music store for a very long time.

I'd like to know the ins and outs if whats really going on, I'd guess that the people at the top won't realty be loosing out on much if they bust their company so they give up trying to make it work and walk away, take a few months off work then go into another stupidly paid job. I say this because hmv have literally just opened a new shop in west quay about 3 weeks ago, less than 5 mins walk from their main big store in Southampton, surely they would have seen the companies troubles before making that financial gamble to open two shops in the zame area.

And I've never understood this "support your high street" "support your local shop" thing. Yes its sad when they go bust but they wouldn't give two ****s about me if I was facing famine and poverty.

Hmv should have cut their losses, sold up and gone digital years ago. Savi/zavi or what ever they're called did it and they're still going

[LewSpeight]

My bet is on Blockbuster going next..
That place is always dead! When I was little it was always busy, now everytime I've been down there I'm normally the only on in the whole store

[Littlepeahead]

no, but you can just google a handful of random lyrics find some possible track names and then check the song on youtube.

Of course it probably wouldnt help if you were after a copy of "informer".

I meant more that the staff working at Amazon miss out on this delightful form of customer interaction.

[LewSpeight]

I meant more that the staff working at Amazon miss out on this delightful form of customer interaction.

Have you ever spoke to them? (Email/phone)
They're probably not the nicest of people to speak to, never mind comi g face to face with them soulless tw*ts

[dizzyblonde]

If I was faced with childish behaviour like that, no matter how funny it might be to staff, its no wonder hmv are going.

Not so long back they were in the news as they wanted to smarten their staff up by being discriminative towards those with long hair!



Anyway. Homebase is reported to be in trouble. 60 stores to close.

[L3nny]

Sadly file sharing and illegal downloads will kill off music retailers, which in turn means record companies will make smaller profits and have less money to invest in new talent. At Sony I used to have to remind myself sometimes that the massive sales of Michael Bolton funded the first Jeff Buckey album, Celine Dion effectively paid for Screaming Trees and so on.

People will still be making music and with distribution costs these days being pretty much zero people will still be able to listen to it. Artists will still make money from touring, licensing etc so the good ones will still make a living, they just might not have enough money to do things like throw tellys from hotel windows, drive a Rolls Royce into a swimming pool and put half of Columbia up their nose.

Back on topic I can't believe HMV were still around, I haven't bought a CD for at least 5 years and the stuff in my local HMV was expensive compared to online.

[pookie]

all the above havent really diversified or changed their product offerings to react to changing shopping behaviours.

Especially the practice of selling customers intangible assets which have no further value that aren't traceable and cannot be passed on (digital licensing). More for less I guess with minimal overheads.

I like the community feel of towns and shops rather than the shopping mecca of shopping "malls" but times move on and like many others, the ease and benefits of faceless / contact less shopping is a part of our lifestyle now.

[Littlepeahead]

On the flip side of us occasionally making customers the victims of our pranks - and I think they knew they were being stitched up - we also had a 'specialist' in each genre. I liked my rock and indie, someone else was into dance and rave, another loved classical and jazz and we'd be happy to chat to our customers, suggest something they might like, tell them about new releases, put aside a limited edition format for them if we were only getting a few copies, and save the kids the point of sale material and posters of their favourite bands once we'd finished with it. We had one customer who had motor neurone disease but was a big metal fan. He would come in in his electric wheelchair, then print off messages on his tape machine asking me about gigs I'd been to and anything new I'd heard that was worth buying. We'd put a few tracks on for him to listen to. He said that his trip to the record shop and chatting with us was often the best part of his week.

The last few times I've been to HMV the sulky teenagers serving me couldn't have cared less and the concept of customer service seemed totally lost on them. Scan product, stick it in bag, take credit card, hand back credit card, no smile or pleasantries.

[L3nny]

As a budding DJ in my youf I used to love going into record shops and buying vinyl, HMV were actually the only main stream chain which sold dance music on vinyl and used to have a couple of 1210s at the back of the shop and would let you spend all day listing to records before deciding what you wanted to buy.

Now all you need to do is go on youtube or any of the mp3 download sites and you can listen to the track there before purchasing. Is the digital way a better way of doing it? Of course it is!

[carelesschucca]

Sadly knew this was coming, you could feel it in the stores when new stock wasn't coming in. I spent my HMV gift voucher last week.

The music industry must be a bit p!ssed off, they'll want and need a decent face on the highstreet to sell their wares.

Sad day it is, used to spend my life flicking through the shelves of all the record stores in Glasgow.

[tigersaw]

Anyway. Homebase is reported to be in trouble. 60 stores to close.

I've no idea why anyone goes in their stores. Even on 20% off days its cheaper almost anywhere else

[missyburd]

Sad news that the face of the traditional high street will become a charity super highyway.
Something on the radio this morning about the huge success of charity shops and people being interviewed about amazing bargains had. I have to admit, I get more pleasure out of looking for obscure cds in charity shops (when I have time) than I ever did in the likes of HMV. It was always rammed in there if I ever popped in, queues a mile long and as stated, sulky staff. No idea how they managed to survive as long as they did to be honest. As folk have said, if stores don't adapt to a changing market then they'll continue to be left behind. Things change and people move on...to that joyful pastime of job-hunting.

Been announced 25 minutes ago that they won't be accepting any gift cards or vouchers.
Giftcards and vouchers always remain the property of the store until spent, by law they can withdraw them at any time. I have a Next one to spend....how long do you think they've got :rolleyes:

[Jayneflakes]

Is losing HMV such a loss really? I am involved in our local music scene and support local bands. I follow my favorite signed bands via Facebook and their websites. I recently imported a CD from Germany directly from the record label because I could not get the exact version I wanted in the UK with out waiting for weeks while they store piddled about with orders. To be honest, with companies like Nuclear Blast, it is often easier and quicker to deal direct.

Pledgemusic is also a great way for bands to fund new projects. How many of you know of the band Skyclad? Martin of Skyclad started a new project called The Clan Destined and they are fab. I signed up with Pledge music to help fund his new album. This is a way that allows fans to be directly involved with the bands they love.

Digital downloads are a great way for new talent to share music, get known and develop a following. Seeing good quality local bands is a real joy and then seeing these kids smiles when you do buy an album from them is awesome. When ever possible, I ask the young bands to sign the CDs for me because it is worth it.

Also, when it is so easy to run a radio station from your front room, when you can down load high quality MP3s from the label or distributor then what place does a store like this have? Keep up to date with your market, evolve and change or die out! Capitalism thrives on this principle.

As for the local high street, ours is slowly filling up with Greggs the Bakers, payday loan sharks and those shops that allow burglars to steal your Sat Nav from your car and sell it for a couple of quid to buy smack! Cynical, me?

[Biker Biggles]

I wonder if the "His Master's Voice" little dog gets made redundant?

[jambo]

Don't know what the fuss is about, seemed busy when I popped past at lunch. Nothing like a quick fire sale to get the punters in...


Jambo

[Sir Trev]

I wonder if the "His Master's Voice" little dog gets made redundant?

That dog was called Nipper wasn't it?

[tigersaw]

That dog was called Nipper wasn't it?

Think so. i've seen the trumpet and stuffed dog in a museum in Germany somewhere, dont know if it was the genuine article.

[650]

I used to like HMV, but they turned into vile places to shop. Couldn't stand to set foot in one, in the last few years. So I'm not at all surprised.

I want to know what it is you're musing over in your avatar picture, was it the horrible HMV you'd just been into? Looking for obscure Can demo tapes?

[Biker Biggles]

That dog was called Nipper wasn't it?

I think that was Guy Gibson's dog in the PC remake of the Dam Busters:D

[timwilky]

I have to say that I will not miss HMV as despite there actually being one in my local town, I have never been in it.

In the days of vinyl I would use my local independent who appears to be still going. I then graduated to buying from amazon for the few new CDs I would want. These days I just download.

I think to when my daughter wanted a charger speaker thing for her iPod. The guy in the shop was amazed that she wanted one with a cd player built in. Why could she not play all her stuff from her directly from her iPod. Her reply being she had about 200 CD she wanted to listen too.

[Owenski]

For those who spent years downloading illegal content saying "record companies/holywood charge too much, I'm not hurting anyone who cant afford it"... tell that to those thousands who will loose their jobs now.

[timwilky]

I don't think you can blame "illegal" downloading.

Jessops, Comet, HMV etc. They are using an out of date trading model. Nobody uses high street vendors any more. Their overheads and staffing levels simply made them inconvenient and expensive compared to clicking a few buttons in the warmth of your home and it comes through the door a few days later or in the case of download, immediately.

The only time I go on the "High Street" is to watch the football at £1.70/pint. The local pubs where I live are rip offs.

[-Ralph-]

I don't think you can blame "illegal" downloading.

+1 Cant blame legal downloading either.

The only people to blame are HMV management for flogging a dead horse.

Look at the sucess of iTunes, Amazon, etc. Had HMV switched to this business model years ago they could be a big player in online sales today. The people who worked in the shops would still have been out of a job though.

I ripped my entire CD collection to MP3 about 2 years ago and the CD's are in a box in the loft.

I have a CD player in the car and in the kitchen, but as both units accept USB and in the car bluetooth too, they have never been used.

In the living room its DLNA

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

[650]

For those who spent years downloading illegal content saying "record companies/holywood charge too much, I'm not hurting anyone who cant afford it"... tell that to those thousands who will loose their jobs now.

Completely irrelevant. I can afford to say that as I did a dissertation in this very subject for my sound engineering degree :)

Illegal downloading has such a tiny dent in profits for companies like these. Bad management and poor business models are to blame. I bet buying out Zavvi didn't help them out much.

[650]

+1 Cant blame legal downloading either.

The only people to blame are HMV management for flogging a dead horse.

Look at the sucess of iTunes, Amazon, etc. Had HMV switched to this business model years ago they could be a big player in online sales today. The people who worked in the shops would still have been out of a job though.

I ripped my entire CD collection to MP3 about 2 years ago and the CD's are in a box in the loft.

I have a CD player in the car and in the kitchen, but as both units accept USB and in the car bluetooth too, they have never been used.



Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

shame though, innit. Having the physical medium means something to me. I still collect vinyl and enjoy having CD's that have special edition covers and so on. I don't think I'll ever move over to just MP3's. They sound like cack anyway.

[Owenski]

Fair enough its the dowload /on demand culture thats killed it, not so much the illegal element, you've got to admit it won't have helped ;)

[pookie]

the digital licensing and copyright over downloaded material does require a review

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/03/bruce-willis-dilemma-digital-era-own-nothing

Pay slightly less to download an mp3 or pay slightly more to have a cd and own it and pass it on.. hmm I think the customer is buying air again.

Cant wait until xbox and ps have download content only consoles

[dizzyblonde]

Regardless of how they go bust, it still follows quite a noticeable change in trend. Very large companies going bust every day since recession and cut backs began. All flogging similar dead horses and competing miserably with each other for greed.

MissyBurd, Next recently pulled the plug on their kitchens. Yes that's right they sold kitchens too. I could bore folks with the ins and outs but rather just say, when you have too many fingers in pies, it doesn't necessarily mean profit and gain.

Maybe all these big firms are victims of their own success, and a role reversal for the little shop, boutique, company or trader to grab a bit of good times :/

[Bibio]

shame though, innit. Having the physical medium means something to me. I still collect vinyl and enjoy having CD's that have special edition covers and so on. I don't think I'll ever move over to just MP3's. They sound like cack anyway.

same here.

mp3 = cack sound quality.

cd = decent sound easy to handle

vinyl = best sound but fragile as its analogue but requires very good play back equipment to get the best from it

that's my view and i'm sticking to it.

as for HMV well i think it's a sad day that they are going.

[Spank86]

Her reply being she had about 200 CD she wanted to listen too.
Had she considered burning said CD's to her Ipod?

[Littlepeahead]

shame though, innit. Having the physical medium means something to me. I still collect vinyl and enjoy having CD's that have special edition covers and so on. I don't think I'll ever move over to just MP3's. They sound like cack anyway.

I agree about MP3 sound quality. On an ipod with the cr@ppy little headphones that leak sound everywhere they may sound OK. Put a download through a decent amp and speakers and it sounds weedy. CDs are a bit better. Buy a really good turntable and some heavyweight vinyl and the sounds has so much more depth and warmth.

I own over 600 CDs. When I split with an ex I left that CD collection of over 800 behind and decided I would just re-buy the ones I liked best. Now I am gradually re-buying a lot of that on vinyl.

Anyone under 35 probably doesn't really understand the joy of album artwork, gate-folds, inner sleeves, spot varnishing, coloured vinyl, picture discs etc. Madonna's Like A Prayer album packaging on the first pressings of the CD, cassette, and LP were scented with patchouli oil to smell like a church. The Lightning Seeds Jollification album was strawberry scented - I had to visit the place that made the scents and choose which one to use.

I got the new Soundgarden album on vinyl, the matt paper it is printed in feels lovely.

I admit I may be a bit of a packaging geek. 5 years working on the sleeves of every album and single Sony - which was Epic and Columbia, and UK Label S2 - only made me worse.

[LewSpeight]

Apparently they're hoping to stay alive, just keep a few small stores open

[chris8886]

The only time I go on the "High Street" is to watch the football at £1.70/pint. The local pubs where I live are rip offs.

where on earth do you get beer for £1.70 a pint?!?! wherever that is i want in!! how can you possibly say that's a rip off?!

[dizzyblonde]

where on earth do you get beer for £1.70 a pint?!?! wherever that is i want in!! how can you possibly say that's a rip off?!


Most likely Wetherspoons. No matter what town, their prices are all the,same ;)

[chris8886]

Most likely Wetherspoons. No matter what town, their prices are all the,same ;)

they most certainly aren't in watford as far as i know! :(

[-Ralph-]

It is mp3's that are crap, or the disk space compromises we make to carry them around with us, or systems we play them on? New thread here...

http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=189289

[Spank86]

well you've got my response.

Personally music and general hearing is such a subjective thing i think you'll always get disagreement, hopefully everyone will realise that thats not because the other person is necessarily wrong but that we all experience senses in slightly different ways and we don't all hear/process exactly the same thing when we hear the same music.

[ClunkintheUK]

I am a little disappointed to be losing the DVD sections. I know they are more expensive, but I would usually go into an HMV (or similar) on my way home and buy a 3 quid DVD. Cheaper than renting, and i got to keep a hard copy.

On the music side, not that dissappointed at all. Not since I heard that of the 14-15 you used to spend on a CD, only about 50p went to the artist. Artists really make their money touring (according to Alice Cooper), and I think with easy downloads, youtube etc, that this model can boom. Its getting easier and easier for a band to get their music out there. More to it I say. Perhaps we can get more venues on the highstreet now.

[punyXpress]

It's like a guessing game......which big named firm will be the next to go?
How about a new venture:
Set up an on-line gambling parlour betting on the next big'un to fail.
Base it in Gibraltar to avoid taxes
Rake in the profits.

[ClunkintheUK]

How about a new venture:
Set up an on-line gambling parlour betting on the next big'un to fail.
Base it in Gibraltar to avoid taxes
Rake in the profits.

Already been done. Its called short selling.

[pegasus]

+1 Cant blame legal downloading either.

The only people to blame are HMV management for flogging a dead horse.

Look at the sucess of iTunes, Amazon, etc. Had HMV switched to this business model years ago they could be a big player in online sales today. The people who worked in the shops would still have been out of a job though.

I ripped my entire CD collection to MP3 about 2 years ago and the CD's are in a box in the loft.

I have a CD player in the car and in the kitchen, but as both units accept USB and in the car bluetooth too, they have never been used.

In the living room its DLNA

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

But what makes you think that the management have not already done this?

Think about all the little business's that go under each year and start up fresh the next day, just to write of all their debts!
As a large company there would be huge running costs, closing down a business like that would involve some hefty compensation, for staff and suppliers, golden handshakes all round.
Going into liquidation after a carefully considered period of time, allows other wheels to be put into motion. We have to remember that the people that run these businesses are hired to make ruthless decisions which are best for the board of directors, not the shareholders.

Here is a short list of facts that might make what i am saying seem a bit more tangeable:

Trevor Moore - current CEO Hmv group, formerly CEO of Jessops, now being liquidated. Also MD of various other digital media companies eg voice media ltd.

Simon Fox - Previous CEO of HMV group, formerly CEO of Comets group ltd, now being liquidated.

David Adams, Non executive director of HMV Group, former director of Jessops, now being liquidated. formerly director of JJB sports, now being partially sold off to sports direct, still a non equity trading company.

Ian Kenyon - current finance director HMV Group, former finance director Jessops, now being liquidated.

Do you see a pattern.

P

[timwilky]

Had she considered burning said CD's to her Ipod?


My thoughts, but she couldn't be arsed. she had the CDs, she just wanted to listen to them as and when the mood struck her.

[pookie]

they arent very good at management? :)

[timwilky]

where on earth do you get beer for £1.70 a pint?!?! wherever that is i want in!! how can you possibly say that's a rip off?!

Pearsons Chorley. It was a Yates that went under. there seems to be a company locally that specialises in buying up shut down pubs in the right areas, they have another the Queens in Leyland. give them a refurb, put in the right management, right attitude and the right price and the customers will follow. So my football round in Chorley is two carling, two smiths = £7.40. OK I know it isn't premium beer, but to sup whilst watching football you cannot complain. We would use Weatherspoons but they don't show football.

I say local is rip off as they want to charge £2.70 for smiths. One of the local millionaires has just bought a local closed down pub and has arranged to let it to another who wants to reopen it. They tell me they are targeting £2.00 a pint to try and drive down local prices and encourage more into the pubs.

[dizzyblonde]

they arent very good at management? :)
Oh I dunno, I bet they have more than a few pennies in the bank ;)

Certainly not short of braincells that's for sure!

[dizzyblonde]

Pearsons Chorley. It was a Yates that went under. there seems to be a company locally that specialises in buying up shut down pubs in the right areas, they have another the Queens in Leyland. give them a refurb, put in the right management, right attitude and the right price and the customers will follow. So my football round in Chorley is two carling, two smiths = £7.40. OK I know it isn't premium beer, but to sup whilst watching football you cannot complain. We would use Weatherspoons but they don't show football.

I say local is rip off as they want to charge £2.70 for smiths. One of the local millionaires has just bought a local closed down pub and has arranged to let it to another who wants to reopen it. They tell me they are targeting £2.00 a pint to try and drive down local prices and encourage more into the pubs.


My brother is landlord of our Yates. Stand in area manager when needed. Goes off spot checking his pubs often. He took over his pub a couple of years back as it was seriously flagging. It's always been a dive, but its now one of the most popular in town. His managing skills are awesome, he's turned it from loss to best in region. Many times over. A lot to be said for the right sort of people. Staff have followed him from other pubs, and customer base

I laughed my socks off with one of his FB statuses the other day. He went to another large pub in town, dunno what company its owned by. £3.60 for a bottle of Wkd Irn Bru. I could vision him falling off his barstool at the pain of coughing up such an amount for garbage alcohol :)

[ClunkintheUK]

I laughed my socks off with one of his FB statuses the other day. He went to another large pub in town, dunno what company its owned by. £3.60 for a bottle of Wkd Irn Bru. I could vision him falling off his barstool at the pain of coughing up such an amount for garbage alcohol :)

Not half as painful as trying to drink it.

[-Ralph-]

But what makes you think that the management have not already done this?

What makes you think I don't think that?

The only people to blame are HMV management for flogging a dead horse.

Had HMV switched to this business model [organisation/brand]

As a large company there would be huge running costs, closing down a business like that would involve some hefty compensation, for staff and suppliers, golden handshakes all round.
Going into liquidation after a carefully considered period of time, allows other wheels to be put into motion

Was my first train of thought when I heard the news this morning.

[Spank86]

My thoughts, but she couldn't be arsed. she had the CDs, she just wanted to listen to them as and when the mood struck her.

I sat down when I first got my Ipod and burnt all mine but I can see why someone wouldnt want to devote a day to it.

On the other hand I reckon i'd still have most of them on there by now, doing it one at a time as I wanted them.

[timwilky]

Ahh Dizzy, Seeing he is a Yates man get him to knock up a Chorley favorite for you.

Aussie white and cider normally served in a "dock". Dock being a fancy gill size glass.

This has gone totally off topic.

[Biker Biggles]

But what makes you think that the management have not already done this?

Think about all the little business's that go under each year and start up fresh the next day, just to write of all their debts!
As a large company there would be huge running costs, closing down a business like that would involve some hefty compensation, for staff and suppliers, golden handshakes all round.
Going into liquidation after a carefully considered period of time, allows other wheels to be put into motion. We have to remember that the people that run these businesses are hired to make ruthless decisions which are best for the board of directors, not the shareholders.

Here is a short list of facts that might make what i am saying seem a bit more tangeable:

Trevor Moore - current CEO Hmv group, formerly CEO of Jessops, now being liquidated. Also MD of various other digital media companies eg voice media ltd.

Simon Fox - Previous CEO of HMV group, formerly CEO of Comets group ltd, now being liquidated.

David Adams, Non executive director of HMV Group, former director of Jessops, now being liquidated. formerly director of JJB sports, now being partially sold off to sports direct, still a non equity trading company.

Ian Kenyon - current finance director HMV Group, former finance director Jessops, now being liquidated.

Do you see a pattern.

P

You will be in trouble if you continue to post that cynical leftie dogma.It goes down like a lead balloon on here.;)

Ill have you know that list you posted are all men of fine upstanding character,pinacles of integrity in our thriving economy.Where would we be without them?:smt078

[-Ralph-]

You will be in trouble if you continue to post that cynical leftie dogma.It goes down like a lead balloon on here.;)

Ill have you know that list you posted are all men of fine upstanding character,pinacles of integrity in our thriving economy.Where would we be without them?:smt078

:lol:

So, what's the bets? Will it be another Woolworths, or will they reinvent with a new brand?

[dizzyblonde]

Possibly do a Hein Gericke?

In that I mean keep stores of strategically value

[daveangel]

Pity to see another name go and for all the staff and yes, I was in there buying at Christmas. . .
One TV show compared prices on various Xmas gifts internet and shops and found the savings to be made on buying stuff online weren't that different, unfortunately internet shopping is a part of the sedentary life some people live now more than saving a few quid.

[flymo]

My nearest one is an enormous HMV in Liverpool. Choice of ordering Christmas CD gifts online from Amazon or Play, free delivery in a day or so versus getting to Liverpool, parking and then joining 150 people in the queue at HMV..... easy choice.

[Sir Trev]

they [JD Wetherspoons] most certainly aren't in watford as far as i know! :(

Oh yes they are...

The Moon Under Water, 44 High Street, Watford

Colombia Press, 72-74 The Parade, High Street, Watford.

[/derail]

[yorkie_chris]

I laughed my socks off with one of his FB statuses the other day. He went to another large pub in town, dunno what company its owned by. £3.60 for a bottle of Wkd Irn Bru. I could vision him falling off his barstool at the pain of coughing up such an amount for garbage alcohol :)

FFS he's a decent bloke and if he wants to be a bender then that's his business but what's he drinking that sh*te for!?!

[Littlepeahead]

Blockbuster just gone into administration - as predicted by someone on here a few days ago.

[dizzyblonde]

Don't ask me.....he's bloody queer ;)

[-Ralph-]

FFS he's a decent bloke and if he wants to be a bender then that's his business but what's he drinking that sh*te for!?!

'Cos that's what real blokes drink :rolleyes:

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/62128_10151293992984837_1377108608_n_zps92a18a9c.j pg

[-Ralph-]

(Most of mine went in the drip trays when nobody was looking)

[LewSpeight]

Blockbuster just gone into administration - as predicted by someone on here a few days ago.

God. Maybe if I say we're gunna have a heat wave that'll happen too?

[dizzyblonde]

'Cos that's what real blokes drink :rolleyes:

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/62128_10151293992984837_1377108608_n_zps92a18a9c.j pg

:smt005

[dizzyblonde]

Some people feel their vouchers should be taken as payment http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-16-angry-grandfather-walks-out-of-hmv-with-3-games-after-staff-refuse-to-accept-gift-voucher?fb_action_ids=10200354668851322&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=feed_opengraph&action_object_map=%7B%2210200354668851322%22%3A149 138475238551%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210200354668851322%22%3A%22og .recommends%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D&ref=feed_open_graph&_ft_=src.19%3Asty.347%3Aactrs.1292900606%3Apub_tim e.1358344751%3Afbid.10200354668851322%3As_obj.5%3A s_edge.24%3As_prnt.28%3Aft_story_name.StreamStoryO penGraphAction_og.recommends_one2one%3Amf_objid.10 200354668851322%3Aobject_id.10200354668851322%3Aob ject_timeline_token_map.Array%3Aapp_id.15624712440 4264%3Aaction_type_id.235170989930193%3Amedia_type .1%3Aobject_type_name.article

[Spank86]

thats what I'd do.

unless theres something in the terms and conditions on the voucher.

[-Ralph-]

Some people feel their vouchers should be taken as payment http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-01-16-angry-grandfather-walks-out-of-hmv-with-3-games-after-staff-refuse-to-accept-gift-voucher?fb_action_ids=10200354668851322&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=feed_opengraph&action_object_map=%7B%2210200354668851322%22%3A149 138475238551%7D&action_type_map=%7B%2210200354668851322%22%3A%22og .recommends%22%7D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D&ref=feed_open_graph&_ft_=src.19%3Asty.347%3Aactrs.1292900606%3Apub_tim e.1358344751%3Afbid.10200354668851322%3As_obj.5%3A s_edge.24%3As_prnt.28%3Aft_story_name.StreamStoryO penGraphAction_og.recommends_one2one%3Amf_objid.10 200354668851322%3Aobject_id.10200354668851322%3Aob ject_timeline_token_map.Array%3Aapp_id.15624712440 4264%3Aaction_type_id.235170989930193%3Amedia_type .1%3Aobject_type_name.article

"Finance director Ian Kenyonn said the company was confident of its legal position, having checked with lawyers back in December."

So all the grandparents on pensions who bought HMV vouchers in December, and thought £40 was an awful lot for a 6 year olds xmas present, but that's what these computer games cost, have now lost their money.

It's no different to ordering something mail order, then the company goes bust, or booking a holiday without ATOL cover, but you can see why people would be upset.

[Spank86]

The difference IMO is that this company is still there and still trading (even under administration)

If HMV had shut it's doors then that would be one thing but it hasn't, It's still happy to take our money just not to fulfil its other obligations. I bet If I somehow owed it money it wouldn't be happy with me no longer wanting to pay.

[yorkie_chris]

Just nick whatever value you have then, seems fair.

[ClunkintheUK]

Vouchers are worthless. I feel sorry for all the kids/grandparents who received/gave vouchers this christmas. I agree they should have stopped selling vouchers, but know why they didn't. They are unsecured credit notes. By not honouring them they are defaulting on their debt. But they are already in default, so don't care about that.

Everything for a retailer like that hangs on Christmas. They probably breached covenants back in november, and the creditors waited until the christmas sales period had finished to call administration, as they would recover more money not having a fire sale in december.

I reckon there will be more names going bust in the next few weeks.